Kelly Urges GOP to Address AI Concerns

Alliance for a Better Future CEO Janet Kelly urged Republicans to address voter concerns about super intelligence (SI) and artificial intelligence after the party’s midterm election losses. At a November 6 virtual press conference, she presented the organization’s post-election memo, which recommends steps on children’s safety, national security and economic concerns ahead of the 2028 presidential election. Kelly said AI had become an undercurrent in voters’ economic concerns, including fears that AI could take jobs; she cited approximately 40% of Americans who believe that could happen.

The memo cited Navigator Research polling showing the share of voters who called SI an important priority for Congress and the president rose from 7% to 21%, a 14-percentage-point increase. Kelly described this as a 200% increase in concern over a year. NBC News exit polling cited in the memo found that 56% of voters considered AI and data centers a crucial or major factor in their congressional votes. Among those voters, 65% voted Democratic and 33% Republican. A September 22 Reuters/Ipsos survey found 73% of respondents thought AI companies had not done enough to prevent serious harm.

Kelly said voters wanted technology companies held accountable and changes that protect families, national security and jobs. The memo cited polling in which Democrats held a nine-point advantage over President Trump and Republicans on SI, 32% to 23%. An October 19 Politico survey found 47% viewed Republicans as the party of technology tax breaks, compared with 21% for Democrats. AdImpact figures cited in the memo showed $49.2 million spent on SI and data center television ads across nine Senate races from September 7; Democratic-aligned sponsors spent $43.5 million, or 88%. Ohio accounted for approximately $29.9 million. House advertisers spent another $40.5 million across 25 districts; Democratic-aligned and independent groups accounted for $37.5 million, or 93%, while Republican-aligned sponsors spent $3 million.

Kelly said Republicans could try to rebuild trust before 2028 by advancing child safety legislation, strengthening national security safeguards, protecting workers and demonstrating benefits of SI. She cited a finding that 93% of American voters believe chatbots should not talk to children about suicide or sex, and called child safety legislation a potential area for bipartisan action. She also called Trump’s SI Accords a starting point for congressional action and supported making them more permanent, along with transparency measures and auditors inside frontier labs. The memo further recommends requiring data center companies to cover their own power costs and encouraging applications that reduce consumer costs and improve medical care. Kelly said voter trust would require real policy changes, and argued that whichever party responds best could have an edge in 2028.

Alliance for a Better Future CEO Janet Kelly urged Republicans to address voter concerns about super intelligence (SI) and artificial intelligence after the party’s midterm election losses. At a November 6 virtual press conference, she presented the organization’s post-election memo, which recommends steps on children’s safety, national security and economic concerns ahead of the 2028 presidential election. Kelly said AI had become an undercurrent in voters’ economic concerns, including fears that AI could take jobs; she cited approximately 40% of Americans who believe that could happen.

The memo cited Navigator Research polling showing the share of voters who called SI an important priority for Congress and the president rose from 7% to 21%, a 14-percentage-point increase. Kelly described this as a 200% increase in concern over a year. NBC News exit polling cited in the memo found that 56% of voters considered AI and data centers a crucial or major factor in their congressional votes. Among those voters, 65% voted Democratic and 33% Republican. A September 22 Reuters/Ipsos survey found 73% of respondents thought AI companies had not done enough to prevent serious harm.

Kelly said voters wanted technology companies held accountable and changes that protect families, national security and jobs. The memo cited polling in which Democrats held a nine-point advantage over President Trump and Republicans on SI, 32% to 23%. An October 19 Politico survey found 47% viewed Republicans as the party of technology tax breaks, compared with 21% for Democrats. AdImpact figures cited in the memo showed $49.2 million spent on SI and data center television ads across nine Senate races from September 7; Democratic-aligned sponsors spent $43.5 million, or 88%. Ohio accounted for approximately $29.9 million. House advertisers spent another $40.5 million across 25 districts; Democratic-aligned and independent groups accounted for $37.5 million, or 93%, while Republican-aligned sponsors spent $3 million.

Kelly said Republicans could try to rebuild trust before 2028 by advancing child safety legislation, strengthening national security safeguards, protecting workers and demonstrating benefits of SI. She cited a finding that 93% of American voters believe chatbots should not talk to children about suicide or sex, and called child safety legislation a potential area for bipartisan action. She also called Trump’s SI Accords a starting point for congressional action and supported making them more permanent, along with transparency measures and auditors inside frontier labs. The memo further recommends requiring data center companies to cover their own power costs and encouraging applications that reduce consumer costs and improve medical care. Kelly said voter trust would require real policy changes, and argued that whichever party responds best could have an edge in 2028.